In England (where the offences took place) the age of criminal responsibility is 10.

The perpetrators of the damage were 15 or 16 so well beyond that age. I agree that the penalties in the criminal justice system are strange, to say the least.

You're right when you say that parents often don't know the specific location of a child, especially at the ages of 15 & 16 when a lot of trust (misplaced in this case) has to be given about where they are. How many boys say they are at a male friends house until 11pm when in fact they are with a girl. (Or vice versa!)?

I'm sure that teenage pregnancy doesn't start often at a male friends house! (Unless it is a female visiting!!!)